Martin Freeman's partner Amanda Abbington joins the cast of Sherlock

The BBC has confirmed that the actress will appear "in a role that significantly impacts upon the lives of John and Sherlock"

Sherlock star Martin Freeman could soon have a new, yet strangely familiar, partner in crime-solving, with the news that his long-term girlfriend Amanda Abbington has joined the cast of the BBC1 detective drama.

Abbington was recently spotted in Bristol filming a scene for the upcoming third series alongside Benedict Cumberbatch’s detective, and this morning the BBC confirmed her involvement.

There’s no news yet as to who Abbington will be playing – a love interest for Freeman's character John wouldn’t test her acting skills much – but we're told its a role that "significantly impacts upon the lives of John and Sherlock".

Abbington and Freeman met in 2000 on the set of British film Men Only and have two children together.

Sherlock season three is filming in two parts, with two episodes shooting in the current period and another after an early summer break.